MEDIA ADVISORY 

Contact: Lydia Sermons or Carol Wilkerson 
Email: mediarelations@howard.edu   
Phone: 202-288-7071  

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bower to Address Howard University’s 158th Commencement Convocation on May 9 

Over 3,000 degree recipients in this year’s graduating class and 198 holding 4.0 GPAs  

WASHINGTON — A spectrum of emerging professionals in an array of fields will be on full display during Howard University’s 158th Commencement Saturday, May 10, 2025, which will feature graduates based on approximately 3,160 applications for graduation. Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser will deliver the keynote address. The processional of graduates will begin at 8:15 a.m. and the ceremony will start at 9:45 a.m. The event is ticketed. It will be livestreamed on WHUT, WHUR, and at www.howard.edu beginning at 8:45 a.m. 

WHAT: Howard University’s 158th Commencement Convocation 
WHEN: Saturday, May 9, 2025 
Processional of Graduates - 8:15 a.m. 
Ceremony Begins – 9:45 a.m. 
WHERE: Howard University Yard, 500 Howard Pl NW, Washington, D.C. 20059   

Media who wish to cover commencement must RSVP here by Thursday, May 7 and arrive on the day of the ceremony no later than 8:00 a.m. Additional details will be shared after RSVPs are received.  

The 158th Commencement Convocation will also be live streamed on Howard University’s YouTube channel and air live on Howard University’s radio station WHUR 96.3 FM and WHUT-TV, Howard University’s public broadcast channel. The ceremony will be re-broadcast at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 10.   

Key facts about the Class of 2026 and the 158th Commencement ceremony include: 

• Applications for graduation (as of May 6, 2026): 3,160 
• The youngest graduates are 19 years old. There are 14. 
• The oldest doctoral graduates are 71. There are 2. 
• 198 graduates have a 4.0 grade point average.  
• 134 veterans will be among the graduates. 
• 17% of the class are first-generation college students.  
• Graduates hail from 41 nations and 47 states.  
• 47% are undergraduate Pell grant recipients 

Honorary Degree Recipients: 

• The Honorable Muriel Bowser (Doctor of Humanities) — seventh elected mayor of Washington, D.C. 
• Rosalind G. Brewer (Doctor of Laws) — Spelman College interim president and board chair emerita. 
• Robert (Bob) Iger (Doctor of Laws) — immediate past CEO of The Walt Disney Company. 
• Antoine Garibaldi, Ph.D. (B.A. ’73) (Doctor of Humane Letters) — president emeritus and Distinguished University Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy. 
• The Reverend Richard L. Smallwood (B.A. ’71, M.Div. ’04) (Doctor of Music), founding member of the Howard Gospel Choir and gospel music legend. 

Speakers for Additional School and College Recognition Ceremonies  

• Dr. Marie Chisholm-Burns, executive vice president and provost at Oregon Health & Science University - College of Pharmacy; Wednesday, May 6, 6–9:30 p.m. 
• Lenora Peters Gant, national security executive, senior advisor, and research administrator. – College of Arts and Sciences; Thursday, May 7, 8-10am and 1-3pm 
• Na’ilah Suad Nasir, president, Spencer Foundation - School of Education; Thursday, May 7, 10 a.m.-noon 
• 3 student exemplars: Cecily Duffie (PhD), Arsene Frederic (PhD), and Jaren Smith (MS) - Graduate School; Thursday, May 7, 2–4 p.m. 
• Heather Burris, immunization division chief at the District of Columbia Department of Health - College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences; Thursday, May 7, 6–9 p.m. 
• Monique Greenwood, owner of the world-famous Akwaaba Mansion Bed and Breakfast - School of Business; Friday, May 8, 8-10 a.m. 
• Billie Downing, M.D., assistant professor, College of Medicine - College of Medicine; Friday, May 8, 9 a.m.–noon 
• Georgia Fort, independent, award-winning journalist and media entrepreneur - Cathy Hughes School of Communications; Friday, May 8, noon-2 p.m. 
• Ms. Rachel Pierre, director of the DC Department of Human Services - School of Social Work; Friday, May 8, 1:30–3:30 p.m. 
• Damon T. Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – School of Law; May 8, 4-6 p.m. 
• Dr. William H. Curtis, senior pastor of Mount Ararat Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, Penn. - School of Divinity; Friday, May 8, 5-7 p.m. 
• Makola Abdullah, Ph.D., president of Virginia State University - College of Engineering and Architecture; Friday, May 8, 6–8 p.m. 
• Todd V. Ester, DDS, M.A., associate dean, Well-Being and People and clinical associate professor, University of Michigan School of Dentistry - College of Dentistry; Saturday, May 9, 2:30-4:30 p.m. 
• Jewel Ham, multidisciplinary visual artist, educator, and cultural practitioner - Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts; Saturday, May 9, 2:30–4:30 p.m. 

For more information, including full honoree bios, graduate profiles, parking, ticketing, seating, and logistics information, please visit commencement.howard.edu. 

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